It's the most wonderful time of the year for golf fans as the PGA Tour heads to Augusta. Nothing makes Masters week as exciting as a little competition allowing you to root for a group of golfers heading into the weekend. We're here to give you a winning DraftKings lineup for the Masters along with tips to consider when constructing your lineup.
Before you build your DFS lineup, the first thing to consider is the kind of contest you are entering. If you are entering a 50/50 game where the top half of the field places, ownership percentages are not as important. You are looking for golfers with a high floor who are not going to miss the cut at Augusta. The strategy is a lot different in tournaments with thousands of competitors. You are going to need to have a unique lineup with a few golfers that are not heavily owned.
All this leads us to Tiger Woods who continues to be the story heading into the Masters. Let's be honest, having Tiger Woods in your lineup when he is playing like he has been in recent months is a lot of fun. While I don't want to be in the anti-fun group, consider that Woods is going to have a high ownership percentage as many of the casual fans will have Woods in their lineup. I'll have a couple lineups with Woods, but in the bigger tournaments I'm likely to fade Woods just based on his likely ownership numbers. Woods is the fourth-priced golfer on DraftKings at $10,000 offering little value.
Everyone has stats they like to lean on at Augusta, and the strokes gained categories is a key stat to consider. Golf.com's Mark Broadie points out that putting is not as crucial as some may think, and strong performers in the strokes gained categories have performed consistently well at Augusta. You will see these stats cited throughout my picks.
Rickie Fowler offers some good value at $9,000, and has a solid track record at Augusta. The one thing that decreases his value is his Masters performances in the final round. Fowler has only shot 70 or less on a Masters Sunday once. The rest of his round four scores over his career at Augusta are well over 70.
Bubba Watson is priced at $8,700, and has proven he can win the Masters. With his play as of late, many believe Watson is back to being the Bubba of old. One thing to consider is Watson's last three performances at Augusta: T-62, T-37 and T-38. If you are riding with Watson, you're banking on his recent form in tournaments rather than what he has shown at Augusta over the last few years.
Be sure to check out my sleeper picks for some of the best DFS values for the Masters. Click the next arrow for my best Masters DraftKings lineup picks. You can also click on the names below to go to a specific golfer's page.
Tony Finau| Kevin Chappell| Matt Kuchar| Hideki Matsuyama| Jordan Spieth| Justin Rose
No. 6 Tony Finau
DraftKings Price: $7,400
Masters Odds: 90 to 1
Fuzzy Zeller was the last rookie to win the Masters which happened almost four decades ago in 1979. In other words, it is very difficult to win a green jacket in your Augusta debut. While I don't expect Finau to win the 2018 Masters, he has what it takes to land in the top 10. Given his $7,400 price tag, that would be solid value for Finau in his first Masters appearance.
Finau is another golfer who is strong in the different strokes gained statistics, which we like for Augusta. Finau ranks 22nd in overall strokes gained. He is 17th in strokes gained in approach-the-green, and 11th in tee-to-green. Finau's ability to drive the ball has many people bullish on his chances at the Masters.
Since December, Finau has three top 10 finishes: T-2 at the Genesis Open, T-6 Farmers Insurance Open and T-4 at the QBE Open. Finau has scored 70 or more fantasy points in eight of his last 10 tournaments, and is averaging 72 points on DraftKings. He has made the cut in 9 out of his last 11 tournaments.
Finau grew up watching the Masters every year, and will finally get to play in the tournament that introduced him to golf. Finau told the Salt Lake Tribune that his game is "perfectly suited" for Augusta.
“I know the golf course inside and out,” Finau told the Salt Lake Tribune citing his decades of watching the Masters. "...We’ve done some good homework. I don’t think there’s going to be too many tricks for us.”
Finau is averaging 70 fantasy points on DraftKings, and has notched more than 70 points five times in 2018. Finau scored 99 points in his second place finish at the Genesis open. Finau had back-to-back 80 plus performances in January with 85 points at the Farmers Insurance Open and 83.5 at the Sony Open.
Finau is not an elite putter, and will need to do better this week to have a solid performance at Augusta. Golf.com's Mark Broadie explains why putting may not be as important as you think at the Masters.
"Augusta's greens are more difficult to putt than average, but a closer examination yields surprises," Broadie writes. "Inside of seven feet, players sink more putts at Augusta than elsewhere. Those immaculately conditioned greens are most likely the explanation. Outside of seven feet, the green speed and slope leads to more putts. The conclusion is that precision iron shots, especially from 125 to 225 yards, is the skill on which Augusta places the highest premium. Augusta, more than other courses, is a second-shot course, where power (to hit the ball high and land it softly) and precision are required to knock approach shots closer to the hole, giving the players shorter putts. Fact: The top ten finishers at Augusta last year gained the most strokes with their approach shots."
Finau ranks in the top 20 for strokes gained when it comes to approach to the green. Finau not only can drive the ball, but follows it up with consistent shots. It is a formula that could give him a little leeway when it comes to putting.
Kevin Chappell| Matt Kuchar| Hideki Matsuyama| Jordan Spieth| Justin Rose
No. 5 Kevin Chappell
DraftKings Price: $6,900
Vegas Odds: 125 to 1
Chappell is well down in the Vegas odds, making him a great value both in Vegas and on DraftKings. Chappell has three top 10 finishes this year: T-7 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T-8 at Pebble Beach and T-6 at the Career Builder Challenge. Chappell has made the cut in every tournament he has played in this year.
The golfer does not have a lot of experience at Augusta, but he is coming off a T-7 performance at only his second Masters. Chappell finished rounds three and four with his best career scores at the course (70 and 68).
Chappell enters Augusta ranked 16th in strokes gained ahead of a bevy of other golfers including Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler. He ranks third in strokes gained off the tee, and eighth in strokes gained tee-to-green.
Chappell has the characteristics of the kind of player that succeeds at Augusta, and proved last year he can perform at a high level at the biggest tournament in golf. His price tag reflects the fact he has only played in two Masters, and also takes into account some of his play this season.
Chappell has become one of the best drivers on the PGA Tour. His swing coach Mark Blackburn spoke with Golf Digest about why his swing has had so much success.
"One of Kevin's key moves is his dynamic transition into the downswing," Blackburn explained to Golf Digest. "His lower body moves toward the target while his upper body stays stable...When you move the ball back, you can hit it too much from the inside. Kevin controls trajectory by pivoting his body forward on the downswing...loads the upper body over a stable lower body. The key is to have enough time to make the swing. People tend to get short and quick when they try to hit a knockdown...He can control the downswing pivot. His head is still centered between his feet, which encourages minimal upper-body tilt through impact. That keeps the ball flight down...One of Kevin's key moves is his dynamic transition into the downswing. His lower body moves toward the target while his upper body stays stable...Kevin, like most great ball-strikers, delofts the club with a shallow angle of attack. This produces less spin, made possible by his level body motion."
Chappell earned his first PGA Tour victory in 2017 at the Valero Open. He was also on the 2017 President's Cup national team. Chappell has been a solid play on DraftKings based on his price point. The golfer notched 90 fantasy points at his last outing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and his price tag was just $7,300. He scored 95 points in February at the Pebble Beach Pro Am. Chappell notched 113 points at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January. Overall, Chappell is averaging 70 fantasy points on DraftKings, and has made nine of his last ten cuts.
Chappell has been out since the Arnold Palmer as he recovered from a back injury. Chappell is officially listed in the field, but keep an eye out for injury reports before you lock your lineup just to make sure.
Tony Finau| Matt Kuchar| Hideki Matsuyama| Jordan Spieth| Justin Rose
No. 4 Matt Kuchar
DraftKings Price: $7,600
Vegas Odds: 50 to 1
Kuchar heads to Augusta flying under the radar, and it's a big reason why he is one of my top sleepers for the 2018 Masters. Kuchar is coming off two straight top 10 finishes with a T-8 result in the Houston Open and T-9 at the World Golf Championship. Going back to December, Kuchar has five top 10 finishes.
Kuchar enters Augusta in fine form, but it is his track record at the Masters that makes him such a great value. Kuchar has had four top 10 finishes at Augusta in the last six years including a T-4 result in the 2017 Masters. Kuchar had a bit of slump in 2015 and 2016, but finished T-5 in 2014, T-8 in 2013 and T-3 in 2012. Kuchar has yet to win a green jacket, but has been knocking on the door plenty of times.
With a price tag of $7,600, Kuchar is priced outside the top 20, and is tied as the 24th most expensive golfer for the Masters on DraftKings. Kuchar has played in 11 Masters, and has made the cut in all but one tournament at Augusta. That's a big deal for a player priced at $7,600 as you do not want to risk having a golfer that will miss the cut.
Kuchar has great memories from his numerous Masters tournaments, but he told The Augusta Chronicle that a victory would add to all the great Masters outings he has had over his career.
“I’ve got some amazing memories there, winning it certainly would be icing on the cake,” Kuchar told The Augusta Chronicle. “I’ve done a lot of fun things there, have a lot of great memories and I look forward to my week there every year...A major is on my list of things I’d certainly like to accomplish. I had my best shot [at the British Open] Start over this year and hope I do everything right so that I have a chance to win this year.”
Kuchar has been a model of consistency, making the cut in every tournament he has played in this year. Since late November, Kuchar has had three top 10 finishes, including two in the last two months. Over his career, Kuchar has seven PGA Tour victories, but he is still looking for his first major. Given his strong track record at Augusta, the Masters may be his best chance to get his first major victory. Even if Kuchar does not win the tournament, another top 10 finish is well within reach, which would be more than his $7,600 price tag suggests. His price tag gives you a little more money to spend on some of the top golfers without taking a big risk by putting him in your lineup.
Tony Finau| Kevin Chappell| Hideki Matsuyama| Jordan Spieth| Justin Rose
No. 3 Hideki Matsuyama
DraftKings Price: $8,400
Vegas Odds: 35 to 1
Matsuyama was one of my sleeper picks, but I like him across the board for two key reasons. He is a golfer who is not one of the favorites at Augusta, but has a chance to win the tournament. Secondly, his floor is high with a good chance to land another top 10 finish at Augusta.
The golfer has had a great amount of success at the Masters, especially in recent years. Matsuyama is coming off three straight top 11 finishes at Augusta. Matsuyama finished T-11 at 2017, T-7 in 2016 and fifth in 2015. His 2017 final round of 67 was his second best round at Augusta in his career. Matsuyama is one of four Japanese players expected to compete at the 2018 Masters. He spoke with The Augusta Chronicle about the excitement in Japan over this year's tournament.
“It’s going to be an exciting Masters in Japan, especially if four of us are able to play,” Matsuyama told The Augusta Chronicle. “All of Japan realizes and understands that Augusta is a special place. All I can do is do my best and hopefully it will go well for me this year.”
Matsuyama ranks 12th in strokes gained heading into Augusta, and 13th in strokes gained when it comes to tee-to-green. He is also third in strokes gained around-the-green. You get a bit more value on Matsuyama in 2018 than you did last year, in part because of the thumb injury the golfer has been battling. His recent struggles mean his DFS ownership rates are going to be relatively low. Matsuyama is not too far removed from a T-12 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open, T-4 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and T-5 in the Hero World Challenge.
His $8,400 price tag makes him the 15th most expensive golfer on DraftKings, which is a good price for a player who has a good chance to be in contention on Sunday. Matsuyama explained to The Augusta Chronicle that there is something special that happens when he plays at Augusta.
“There’s something about that special place that really gets me motivated to play the best I can,” Matsuyama told The Augusta Chronicle. “I love Augusta National and enjoy going back there every year. Hopefully through playing there a number of times now I’ve learned what it takes to win. Hopefully my experience I’ve been able to gain will help me learn how to win my first major. I hope it will be there at Augusta.”
Matsuyama has five finishes inside the top 11 of majors over his career. He has been on a hot streak when it comes to majors, finishing in the top 11 in four straight majors. In addition to the 2017 Masters, Matsuyama finished T-2 at the US Open, T-7 at the 2016 Masters and T-4 at the PGA Championship.
Matsuyama's recent hand injury could work to his advantage given he has had more time to prepare, but you will want to check in on his Masters status before locking in your lineup. All indications are Matsuyama is 100 percent heading into Augusta.
Tony Finau| Kevin Chappell| Matt Kuchar| Jordan Spieth| Justin Rose
No. 2 Jordan Spieth
DraftKings Price: $10,400
Vegas Odds: 12 to 1
Spieth may be priced at over $10,000 on DraftKings, but he offers more value than any other player in the field. Fans may be locked in on some of his recent Masters meltdowns, but his final results have been as good as any golfer on the PGA Tour. Consider that Spieth's lowest finish ever at Augusta came last year at T-11. Spieth won the tournament in 2015, and came in T-2 in his other two Augusta outings. Spieth's first and fourth round 75's prevented him from being in the hunt last year. Spieth plays Augusta as well as any other golfer, and enters this year's tournament with confidence given his past success. Spieth has already notched five rounds in the 60's in his first four Masters appearances.
Spieth has had an up-and-down 2018, but is coming off a T-3 finish at the Houston Open. Spieth has struggled with his short game, but there is a good chance he is able to get things right at Augusta where he has a comfort level. Spieth enters Augusta ranked third in strokes gained (tee to green), and ranks in the top 10 in strokes gained when measuring approach to the green. Spieth spoke with The Augusta Chronicle about his disappointment with falling out of contention in the 2017 Masters.
“I walked away disappointed that I didn’t have a chance to win at the turn,” Spieth admitted to The Augusta Chronicle. “Because starting the day in the second-to-last group you want to feel like once you make the turn you have a chance. If I’d started the day in 35th and didn’t have a shot, that’s one thing; you have fun playing the golf course and try to shoot the lowest round possible. But when you start in the second-to-last group you’re looking to be at or near the lead at the turn.”
Spieth is coming off his best DraftKings performance in months notching 113 fantasy points at the Houston Open. Spieth is the complete package from a DFS point of view. Even if Spieth is unable to add another green jacket to his collection, chances are he is going to be high on the leaderboard, meaning he has a very high floor. His ability to drive the ball combined with his success at Augusta makes him one of the best plays this week. Additionally, Spieth is one of a handful of golfers who has already won the Masters, and has a chance to win another one on Sunday. Spieth may have struggled some this year, but it has not impacted his confidence heading into the 2018 Masters.
“Actually really like where I’m at right at this second in regards to approaching Augusta,” Spieth explained to The Augusta Chronicle. “We’re in a very similar position to 2015 (when he won the Masters and U.S. Open and threatened to win the grand slam). So, tremendous year going to take place from here on out. I really consider the Masters the start of the season with anything leading into it as a preparation for the Masters.”
Tony Finau| Kevin Chappell| Matt Kuchar| Hideki Matsuyama| Justin Rose
No. 1 Justin Rose
DraftKings Price: $9,200
Vegas Odds: 14 to 1
Rose went through a heartbreaking playoff loss to Sergio Garcia in the 2017 Masters. I like Rose to be a contender again this year with a chance for redemption on Sunday. Rose checks nearly all the boxes of what to look for in a potential Masters winner. Rose has finished in the top 15 at Augusta seven times over his career. Rose is coming off three straight top 10 finishes at the Masters.
Last year, Rose finished red hot with a 67 and 69 in his final two rounds. Over his career, Rose has had 11 rounds where he scored in the 60's at Augusta. Rose is in the top 10 in strokes gained, a key metric to look at for Masters success. With the exception of his poor showing at the Houston Open, Rose has played well in 2018. He has three top 10 finishes this year including third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T-5 at the Valspar Championship.
Rose may have lost in the worst way last year at Augusta, but he still loves the Masters. Rose noted to The Guardian that history is on his side.
“Look at how the runners-up have done in recent years," Rose explained to The Guardian. "Adam Scott finished runner-up and went on to win. Jordan Spieth was runner-up the year before he won. When I go to Augusta I feel so good there. It hasn’t dampened my enthusiasm for being there. I really love the place. When I went back for a visit last week I knew I was over it. Last summer was tough for me, there’s no getting away from that. There was a bit of a hangover because I didn’t want to play for the two weeks that I had off after the Masters last year. Then I made some changes to my swing after that, so it’s difficult to say I didn’t play well in the summer just because of what happened at Augusta. I was doing different things as well, but honestly, since then it’s been such a small thought in my mind."
Rose not only brings his recent success at Augusta to the table, he also has experience and consistency at the Masters. Rose has played in 12 Masters tournaments, and made the cut all 12 times at Augusta. Even if Rose fails to get the elusive green jacket on Sunday, his body of work tells us he is still going to have a strong finish.
Rose's 93.9 fantasy points per tournament ranks him third among golfers on DraftKings. Since November, Rose has scored 95 or more fantasy points in four tournaments showing he still possesses the upside of the other top golfers, while also having quite a high floor at Augusta. Despite all the data mentioned above, Rose is not priced in the top five on DraftKings for the Masters. Rose's reasonable $9,200 price tag puts him eighth on DraftKings heading into Augusta. His price tag is over $2,000 less than favorites like Dustin Johnson giving you a little extra money to fill out your lineup.
Tony Finau| Kevin Chappell| Matt Kuchar| Hideki Matsuyama| Jordan Spieth|
Masters DraftKings Picks: Best Lineup & DFS Predictions